The Shackleton FAQ (frequently asked questions)
?) Is the following ad real? "Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success."
Thanks to the work, of Martin L. Martens, it looks like this ad appears to be a fake, from his message posted 12/11/02"
| A common question is for the source of Shackleton's 'Men Wanted' ad.
I've spent a bit of time looking into this and found: The first known published appearance of the "Men wanted for hazardous journey" ad is a 1948 book by Julian Watkins "The 100 Greatest Advertisements". Unfortunately Mr. Watkins did not give an exact date for the ad. He attributes it to Shackleton but says it ran in a London newspaper in 1900. Books and articles that attribute the ad to a 1900 London newspaper are almost certainly using Watkins' book as the source. Most articles get the quote from Huntford's Shackleton biography and Huntford got it from Watkins. Watkins was an advertising copy writer and editor and I'd expect that the ad came out of the imagination of a copy writer. Fro more details about "the ad", see: http://www.antarctic-circle.org/advert.htm |
?) Have you heard anything new about
the new Shackleton movie?
Anything I hear will be posted to the movie link.
?) What was that famous quote about Shackleton "... and pray for Shackleton" and who wrote it?
"For scientific leadership, give me Scott, for swift and efficient travel give me Amundsen. But when you are in a hopeless situation, when you are seeing no way out, get done on your knees and pray for Shackleton. Incomparable in adversity, he was the miracle worker who would save your life against all the odds and long after your number was up. The greatest leader that ever came on God's earth, bar none."
Sir Raymond Priestley. a member of the 1907-09 Nimrod Expedition.
?) I think I'm related to Shackleton, can you tell me how?
Sorry, but I don't know to much about the details of the Shackleton genealogy. However, buy a book on the Shackleton family genealogy from a Shackleton who has his own page online. I know that Roland Huntford's biography of Shackleton did go into it a little bit, so you could also look there.
?) What documentaries can I get on video about Shackleton?
I hear that a video may accompany the American Museum of Natural History exhibit. Also I heard that the British Film Institute is re-releasing the movie South.
?) Where can I get the plans for the Endurance ship, as I would like to make a scale model, or are there any kits available?
Yes, they are not cheap, but look at this message form more information on the ships. The ship was originally called the Polaris when it was christened. One might have luck getting the plans by contacting the Framnaes Shipbuilding firm of Sandefjord, Norway.
?) Why did no ships try to rescue the Endurance?
No rescue parties were sent out because winter was coming on, and it was assumed that the Endurance just stayed around for the winter. This happened often as the pack ice would not allow a way out. After winter was over they would have no idea where they were anyway. In the Antarctic region, the ice packs guide where you can go, nobody could have guessed where they were. Even if they had a two way radio (which they didn't), a rescue ship couldn't have reached them that easily anyway, as they were caught fast in the middle of the ice pack. There was never any hope for rescue, and no contingency plans. Other ships had been caught in the ice for many months but were not crushed. They improvised and survived.
?) What book would you recommend to start learning more about Shackleton's Endurance voyage?
Caroline Alexander's Endurance is quite good and contains ~160 photos from the expedition. Alfred Lansing's Endurance is also a very well written account of the voyage, but later editions contain no photos.
?) I have seen a couple of verses written out by Shackleton, from the poem Spitsbergen. Do you know if he wrote this poem and published it anonymously, or if he just liked to quote it?
I doubt that Shackleton wrote the poem, especially anonymously, since Shackleton loved attention. I know that Shackleton was an avid reader of poems, and loved to quote them.
?) Why did I never learn about Shackleton in my history lessons?
Shackleton is most famous for his survival through the Endurance voyage. However, at the time of his return, the W.W.I was raging, and there was not much interest or sympathy for him. Many thought he should never gone in the first place with such a war raging. Shackleton offered his ships' services to the government before sailing, but was told to go on.
?) What connection does Shackleton have to the Titanic?
Shackleton was an expert witness for the Titanic inquiry as an expert in ice navigation. He said that Titanic went down because she was sailing too fast for the conditions. He said it was going too fast because the owners were on board: "When the owner is on board you go." One can see Shackleton's full inquiry at : British Wreck Commissioner's Inquiry - Day 26 - Testimony of Sir Ernest Shackleton - Explorer.
?) Anna asked the interesting question: Was Shackleton's expedition a
failure?
See the responses.
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